USA > New York > Putnam County > History of Putnam County, New York : with biographical sketches of its prominent men > Part 32
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It would be a difficult matter to find this corner stone at the present time, but the place where it was laid was a little west
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TOWN OF CARMEL.
of the old Griffin House, now occupied by Mr. Badeau. There was a grand cavalcade, and the day closed with a fancy dress ball at which all the beauty and chivalry of the place were present. In a local paper occurs this statement: " The Land Improve- ment Company are preparing a large map under the direction of Gen. Viele. It shows an area of four miles square. It is a big thing on paper and may possibly be the fact in the future. If so Lake Mahopac will be the Arcadia of America, and will eclipse all other watering places in the country."
When the Griffin farm was bought by Isabel Saportas, her husband erected a house on the border of the lake, which he occupied for a time. It was situated on the west side of the ontlet of Wixsom Pond and as a stroke of business the com- pany sold this place to Peter B. Sweeney, of New York, for $47,000, it being generally understood that the true object was to induce others of the notorious "Tweed Ring" to take a fancy to the real estate around Lake Mahopac, and to expend upon it some of the boundless wealth stolen from the city of New York; this attempt however was frustrated by the collapse of the noted combination which followed the downfall of its leader.
Among the many projects it was proposed in 1872 to erect a "Musical and Art College" at the lake. This establishment was to be 430 feet in length, 300 feet wide, with a tower 230 feet high. It was to contain 400 suites of rooms, and a music hall to seat 2,500 persons. It is needless to state that this "Castle in the air " never had a more substantial existence. The following extracts from the local papers show the fate of this company:
" May 1, 1875 .- A few years ago a number of gentlemen, many of whom were interested in our new railroad, combined and formed an organization known as the Lake Mahopac Im- provement Company. They purchased a large amount of real estate at and in the vicinity of the Lake, including several hotels and other valuable properties. The prices paid at the time were regarded by many of our most careful citizens as beyond the real value, and naturally enough had a tendency to inflate real estate valuations in that vicinity. The result was that property soon reached a point where only the wealthy could purchase, and there it has remained until the present time, a sort of white elephant in the hands of its owners, with little prospect of speedy realization therefrom.
22
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
"The plans of the company on the start were well laid and in ordinary times, not altogether lacking in financial sagacity. It was intended to utilize the matchless natural advantages of Lake Mahopac, by converting the grounds in the vicinity into a sort of Arcadia, and causing to be erected thereon an endless chain of beautiful villas, for the summer homes of wealth, fashion and culture. Our chief regret is that a combination of circumstances, beyond the control of human forethought, has prevented a reali- zation of the hopes of the originators of the project. The hard times have reached them as well as every other business inter- est, and we find the wolf barking at their door, and in such loud tones as to create well grounded apprehension as to the ultimate success of the improvement enterprise.
"A portion of the property owned by the Company-that known as the Saportas or Griffin Farm -- has already passed under the hammer, and this week we have four more foreclosure sales advertised. They will take place at the Thompson House, Lake Mahopac, on the 10th of June. The first on the list is the Carpenter property, which is foreclosed by Mr. Alvah Hyatt, under a third mortgage of $2,000. There is a $20,000 mortgage ahead of his. Next is the James D. Ganung farm, situate east of the Lake. The mortgage is foreclosed by Mrs. Mary Ganung. The sum claimed is $11,500. The third is the Lake House, known as the Slawson property, and occupied by J. G. Cole. It is sold under a mortgage held by Mr. Seeley Slawson for $5,000. The fourth and last on the list is the Isaac D. Barrett farm, situate at the outlet of Lake Mahopac. The mortgage is foreclosed by Mr. Thaddeus R. Ganung, under a claim of $5,000. Thus is gradually fading out, under time and circumstances, the once promising and supposed powerful Lake Mahopac Im- provement Company." .
" Foreclosure sales at Mahopac, May 12, 1875 .- On Thursday last several important foreclosure sales took place at Lake Ma- hopac, of land belonging to the Improvement Company. The first sold was the Slawson House or Ballard property. It was struck off to C. H. Dewing, of New York, for $5,705. Mr. D. had a judgment against the Company for $100,000 which is a first lien on all the property after the mortgages are satisfied. The next parcel was the Barrett property, west of the Lake, which was foreclosed by Mr. T. R. Ganung. It was pur- chased by Mr. Dewing for $5,935, subject to a mortgage of
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$6,400. The Ganung farm, consisting of 63 acres together with a five acre wood lot west of the lake, was next knocked down to the same party at $11,471, reserving right of way for railroad. The fourth and last sold was the J. W. Carpen- ter property, which was also purchased by the same party, for $1,700 subject to two mortgages, one for $13,000, and the other for $3,500. The sale was in the interest of Mr. Alvah Hyatt. Mr. Dewing, who purchased all the property, is supposed to be one of a number of members of the Company who propose to eat up all the little fish, and then reorganize the Company on a stronger. basis."
" Mahopac Improvement Company, Jan., 1879 .- An applica- tion was made to Judge Barrett in the Supreme Court, Cham- bers, on Saturday the 25th inst., by a majority of the Trustees of the Lake Mahopac Improvement Company for the dissolu- tion of that corporation. The applicants were Messrs. A. V. Stout, Joseph Seligman, John H. Cheever, William H. Guion, Christopher Myer, John Q. Hoyt, and Andrew Mckinney. The company was incorporated in March, 1871, to exist for 30 years, with a nominal capital of $1,000,000 divided into 10,000 shares of $100 each. Of the entire number of shares, 2,500 were is- sued for cash. The remaining 7,500 were issued in payment for land acquired by the corporation on the borders of Lake Ma- hopac. Altogether the company obtained control of 714 acres of land, which it began to lay out into villa plots, and to im- prove otherwise. Before the work of improvement was com- pleted the financial crisis of 1873 affected the operations and de- preciated the value of the company's propery. Being unable to sell any of the land the company mortgaged it heavily, and then having no ready money, borrowed more money to pay taxes and the interest upon the mortgages. When no more money could be borrowed the mortgages were foreclosed, and all but 35 acres of land was sold out. These 35 acres, say the petitioners, are still in the possession of the company, but the mortgages and judgments against the land more than cover its value. The corporation has been insolvent for two years and has done no business for over a year. Judge Barrett referred the petition to ex-Judge L. Fancher, with instructions to ob- tain the views of the creditors of the 'corporation with respect to its dissolution, and also to ascertain its exact financial condi- tion."
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
Upon the ruins of "The Mahopac Improvement (Company" sprang up the " Mahopac Land Company," which was organ- ized November 1st, 1875, the object being the "laying out and subdivision of land into building lots and villa plots at Lake Mahopac." The capital was $200,000 and the trustees were John H. Cheever, John Q. Hoyt, William H. Guion, Henry Knicker- bocker, Andrew Mckinney, E. R. Wiggins and James Johnson. This company purchased, through Charles H. Dewing, several tracts which were sold under mortgage against the former com- pany and came to a similar end.
The "Putnam Land Company," the successor of the preced- ing, was organized April 11th, 1878, with the same object, and with a capital of $49,000. The trustees were Joseph Seligman, William H. Breeden, Andrew V. Stout, John R. Ford and Christopher Myer. This company still has existence, and owns much land on the north side of the lake. The persons who en- gaged in a legitimate boarding house business all did well and were pecuniarily successful, but the speculators all came to grief and made a wretched failure.
The three islands in Lake Mahopac form a very conspicuous feature of the landscape and claim an especial notice. The largest, or Grand Island as it is called, was sold by the commis- sioners of forfeiture to William Smith, May 16th, 1781, the deed describing it as " the large island in the large pond called Hustin's Pond." It was sold by him to Robert Johnson, pre- vious to 1800, and remained in his possession till the time of his death, June 19th, 1823, when it descended to his son, Wil- liam H. Johnson, who died January 28th, 1828, and by the terms of his will his executors were authorized to sell his real estate. The island was sold by Ward B. Howard and others, executors of William H. Johnson, to Silas Slawson, December 24th, 1828, for $550. He sold it to Samuel Myrrick, who mort- gaged it to the Westchester County Bank, and it finally came into the possession of that institution. The president and officers of the bank sold it to Lewis H. Gregory, July 18th, 1870, for $6,000. By foreclosure of mortgage it was sold by George Anderson, referee, to Elias B. Brown and Richard George, October 1st, 1879, and they remain its owners. A valu- able mine of iron ore exists on the island, which is now being worked by them. In the days of the glory of the Mahopac Improvement Company, it was proposed to build a large hotel
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on the island, and run a steam ferry to the mainland, a project which was never realized. A cove on the shore, opposite the island, has ever borne the name of Indian Cove, and an emi- nence back of it is known as Indian Hill. The lake and its shore seem to have been a favorite resort of the aborigines.
Tradition states that upon this island was held the last coun- cil of the Indian tribe that once ruled all the land around. This council was held for the purpose of considering the propo- sition to remove with other tribes to the far West. Canopus, the aged Sachem of the tribe, urged his followers to reject the proposal, and to rally to the defense of their empire and the graves of their ancestors; and his impassioned eloquence de- termined the council against the proposed removal. This le- gend has been written in elegant verse by John W. Lee, Esq., of New York.
" Once the airy curtain lifted, and the shadows rolling back, Shadows of the years that hover o'er the lake of Mahopac, Showed me Indian wariors gathered in the wooded island dell Which the rocks all worn and moss-clad, and the waters guarded well. * * * * * * * *
"Then upon the ledge above them, rose an aged, yet stalwart form, Like some monarch of the forest bending never to the storm; Rose the Chieftain of the Island with that bearing of a King Which the pride of birth may strive for, but the soul alone can Bring.
" Turned his eagle gaze upon them, and with voice as clarion clear Waked the dreamers, and the waiting, wearied maiden sleeping near,
' Rouse Mahicans, sons of heroes! keep your ancient honor bright, I have seen you in the battle-ye were lions in the fight.
"'I have seen you in the council, when the watch-fire lit the glen, And the clouds of war hung o'er us, ye were all undaunted then, When the faggots blazed around you, all defiant in your pain; I have heard you chant your death song, Chieftains now be men again.
" 'Snake or traitor hissed that whisper, sell your forest there is rest, On the banks of the Mississippi, on the praries of the West Who the craven counsel utters? Let him in the fire-light stand Nay he dares not, crouching coward, palsied be thy trembling hand.
"'When the pale face, rushing on thee, grasps thy hatchet and thy bow Hark, the Spirit, Stand, Mahicans; guard your forest, meet the foe By the memory of our empire: by the mounds along the bank, Where our fathers hear the moaning of the river Kichtawanc.
" 'Brothers, gird you for the struggle; breast to breast and eye to eye, Let us swear the oath of glory-one to conquer one to die, Sound once more your ancient war cry; sound it from the mountains steep, Where the eagle hath her eyrie, and the rocks their vigils keep.
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
"'Twice ten thousand shouts shall answer from the river to the sea. Dare nor falter! Fear is failure! Craven hearted, will ye flee ? Go! yet on the darkening future, read the sentence of your doom As in letters of the lightning, traced upon a scroll of gloom.
"'Go! the western tribes shall meet you, ye will be an handful then, And shall perish in your weakness-perish from the minds of men Like your rushing highland river, in its mountains wild and free In the ocean lost forever. Thus shall be your destiny.'"
The next smaller island in the lake, called Petra Island, was sold by the commissioners of forfeiture to James Cock, January 10th, 1782, "Being all that island in the great pond called Hueston's pond, known and distinguished by the name of Hueston's island estimated to be six acres more or less." The price paid was three pounds. James Cock is supposed to have sold it to Peter Mabie who owned it at the beginning of the century and was generally known as "Mabie's island." After his death it was sold by his son, Levi Mabie, to Sutton and Samuel Vail, September 5th, 1818. They mortgaged it with other property to Henry Strang and it came into his possession. It was sold by Washington Strang and others, executors of Henry Strang, to Pierre Humbert, a native of France, May 3d, 1862, for $1,500, and he sold it to Dr. Lewis H. Gregory Sep- tember 29th, 1866. It remained in his possession till September 15th, 1879, when it was sold by George Anderson, referee, to Judge Ambrose Ryder, and it was conveyed by him to Edwin McAlpine, in whose possession it now remains. It is a small rocky island and its intrinsic value would be difficult to state.
The smallest of the three islands is known as Ganung's island. This was probably sold by the commissioners of forfeiture to William Falconer. April 1st, 1823, William Falconer sold to Henry Slote, " All those certain parcels of land beginning at the northeast corner of Wm. Bailey's land by the Big Pond; then running around the big pond to a chesnut tree near Nicholas Romain's shop; then running west 8 chains, 44 links, to the corner of land formerly owned by Josiah Falconer and Wm. Bailey's land; then running north to the pond, the place of beginning, containing about seven acres.
"Also another piece called an island at south end of the Great Pond, and commonly called Little Island, estimated to be fifteen or sixteen rods north from Abel Smith's house, and about
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the same distance west from Levi Bailey's land, containing one acre and fifteen perches, deemed to have become forfeited to the people of this State by the attainder of Roger Morris."
The price for the two parcels was $100 "good and lawful money." Henry Slote sold the same premises to Aaron Carman, February 8th, 1828, offering to sell the seven acres for $500, but demanded ten dollars extra for the island. After some dispute this was paid. Dr. Carman sold the island to Marian Ganung, December 31st, 1859, for $1,000, and it is still owned by her. This little island, greatly beautified and adorned, is one of the gems of the Lake Mahopac, and seems almost a portion of Fairy Land and well deserves its name of " Fairy Isle."
LAKE MAHOPAC METHODIST CHURCH .- In the year 1822, and for some years previous, "Carmel Big Pond" was one of the preaching stations of the old Cortlandt Circuit which embraced a large section of country. The society in this place was duly incorporated, and at a meeting held July 14th. 1822, "at the house of Benjamin Townsend [west of the residence of Judge Edward Wright] the place where they statedly attended for divine worship," the members elected Leonard D. Cliff, Aaron Picker and Platt P. Smith, trustees of the church.
A piece of land was given to the society by Nathaniel Crane, which included the present church lot and extended to the shore of the lake, including the premises where the Lake House now stands. The church was built about 1826, and an additional piece of land was given by Nathaniel Crane, December 9th, 1830. This last piece was one-fourth of an acre on the east side of the churchyard. The old road to Carmel ran on the west side of the church, and near where the Lake House now stands was the house of John Drawyer, who was one of the active members of the church, and bought the land next the lake from the trustees of the society in 1840.
In the burying ground by the church are buried some of the older residents of the vicinity, and the following dates are from the tomb stones:
James Smith, Aug. 24, 1871, age 69; Hester, widow of Jonathan Smith, Dec. 1, 1861, 78; Abel Smith, Oct. 12, 1829, 61; Barsheba, wife; Feb. 17, 1850, 79; Martin Shear, Nov. 12, 1863, 82; Letitia, wife, April 3, 1854, 63; Caleb Wright, Aug. 19, 1853, 81; Mary A., wife, Sept. 20, 1858, 86; John Wixom, Sept. 19, 1870, 75; Betsey, wife, Jan. 7, 1880, 80; Daniel Baldwin, Jan. 24, 1842, 65;
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
Hannah, wife, March 13, 1865, 86; William Hunt, Nov. 23, 1860, 77; Marian, wife, June 15, 1838, 49; John Croft, Feb. 11, 1879, 71; Hannah, wife, Sept. 30, 1868, 63; Elizabeth, wife of Reuben Ganung, Oct. 26, 1841, 80; John Ganung, March 10, 1840, 81; Anne, wife, Sept. 12, 1827, 70; Robert Wright, April 5, 1883, 87; John Vail, Jan. 15, 1871, 73; Wm. Wright, Nov. 10, 1858, 77; Margaret, wife, Jan. 19, 1841, 62; Robert Wright, April 19, 1852, 78; Mary, wife, Feb. 16, 1830, 57; Daniel Gregory, Dec. 17, 1868, 86; Adah, wife, Dec. 4, 1875, 87; Eleazar Baldwin, Aug. 27, 1868, 84.
The parsonage of this church was bought of William Pinckney, April 7th, 1866. It is situated on what was the old Croton Falls road, a short distance north of the present one. The west boundary of this parsonage lot is the original line between Lots 5 and 6 of Philipse Patent.
THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH of Lake Mahopac was organized August 26th, 1860, by the election of Selah Van Duzer and G. Mortimer Belden, wardens, and William Perry, Lewis Ballard, Archibald S. Van Duzer, James A. Patterson, Reuben D. Baldwin, Benjamin T. Camp, George A. Crissey and Augustus Reed, vestrymen.
Rev. Phineas Manning was the officiating minister and pre- siding officer. The usual place of meeting was in the " Horton Cottage " south of the Gregory House, then standing. The church lot was purchased of Marian Ganung, January 7th, 1884, and the church edifice built and dedicated. It was named The Church of the Redeemer.
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH was established by Rev. John Osnejo, and a lot was given for the edifice by Reuben D. Baldwin December 5th, 1866. The building was erected and dedicated August 15th, 1869. For several years this church was under the same pastor with the churches at Brewster and Car- mel. The parish was divided in 1882 and it was connected with the church at Croton Falls. The church edifice is a neat and convenient building and the service is well attended.
UNION VALLEY CEMETERY AND CHAPEL .- This chapel is a branch of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Lake Mahopac. The cemetery association was organized February 28th, 1860, at a meeting held at the house of James B. Ganung at which were present, Oscar Ganung, Samuel W. Travis, Stephen Vores, El- bert Ganung, Bailey Ganung, Charles Sloat, Gilbert Wright, Ben-
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jamin McCollum, Erastus Gregory and Edwin C. Ganung. The land was sold to the association by Gilbert Wright March 22d, 1860. It is described in the deed as "at an angle made by two public roads, one leading from Lyman Bailey's to Croton Falls, the other from Oscar Gannng's, intersecting the highway from Lyman Bailey's a few rods west of the residence of Gilbert Wright." The chapel was built to accommodate people living at a distance, and was dedicated in 1860.
THE MOUNT HOPE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHAPEL is situated at German Flats, north of Lake Mahopac, and is also a branch of the Methodist Episcopal Church at. that place. The society was organized March 4th, 1876, at a meeting held in the school house in District No. 3, where they " statedly assembled for divine worship." The first trustees were Robert Barker, Darius Hopkins, Andrew J. Smith, James Sprague and George W. Potts.
RED MILLS .- The outlet of Lake Mahopac, combined with that of Kirk Lake, furnishes a water power unequaled in the county. It was used at a very early date, and here were doubt- less located "Kirkham's Mills" mentioned in the laying out of roads in 1745. These were probably a small affair and were soon replaced by a much larger and more durable building which lasted more than a century. This mill, which is remembered by the present generation, was built in 1756. It was built with massive timbers and covered with cedar, and from the color which it was painted it was known to all the country round as " Red Mills."
On Erskine's military map they are put down as " Robin- son's Mills." Although they were located on Lot 5 of Philipse Patent owned by Roger Morris, yet in the deed given by the commissioners of forfeitures they are mentioned as having " become forfeited by the attainder of Roger Morris and Beverly Robinson;" from which it is probable they were built by these men in partnership, and it must have been a very expensive building in its day.
Like all the rest of the property of Roger Morris these mills with the land around them were confiscated. On the 16th of May, 1781, Samuel Dodge, John Hathorn and Daniel Graham, commissioners of forfeiture, sold to William Smith " All that certain tract or parcel of land called the Mill Farms, containing 188 acres more or less. Together with all and singular the ad-
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HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
.
vantages and privileges heretobefore derived to the mills on the farm by the water issuing out of the two ponds with their outlets and several streams thereof, and including the large is- land in the large pond called Hustins Pond." The price was $2,750. The deed to John Le Clare conveys to him 89 acres, "excepting the waters with their courses as they run from the great pond through this farm for the use of William Smith's saw and grist mills." Another still larger tract was also sold to William Smith lying between Mahopac and Kirk Lakes.
The mills and the lands adjoining were sold by William Smith to Robert Johnston, about 1799. In the "Country
OLD RED MILLS.
Journal and Poughkeepsie Advertiser," January 9th, 1788, ap- peared the following advertisement:
" William M. Smith No 7 Old Slip, New York, has for sale exceeding cheap, his Capital Mills, now let at $200 per year, with several farms near the same, in Fredericksburg Precinct."
It seems that the original deed to William Smith had been destroyed by fire and on the 28th of March, 1800, the Legislature passed an act for the " Relief of Robert Johnston," by which the abstract on record in the clerk's office of Dutchess county should be held as legal evidence of the existence of the deed. Judge Robert Johnston remained in possession of the mills till the time of his death, when they descended to his son, William
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H. Johnston, who died in 1828, leaving a will by which he authorized his executors, Ward B. Howard, Abraham Smith and Theodorus Van Wyck to sell his real estate. In accordance with this they conveyed to Cornelius J. Tompkins, May 1st, 1829, one hundred and twenty-two acres of land " together with all the water privileges of the great and little ponds as heretofore belonged to Robert Johnston, deceased." January 1st, 1835, Cornelius Tompkins sold the same to John Haff and Ira Dean for $12,000. October 4th, 1837, they were sold by John Haff and his assignees to Amzi L.' Dean and Isaac Lounsbury. Lounsbury bought the share of Amzi Dean in 1840 and he sold the mills to Amzi Slawson March 31st, 1855.
Amzi Slawson kept the mill property till October 1st, 1858, when he sold it to Seeley Slawson, and he conveyed it to William and Charles Theill April 28th, 1862. William Theill sold his share to Charles Theill August 30th, 1864, and he conveyed it to George Juengst of New York February 1st, 1865. He pur- chased it for the manufacturing firm of Thomas J. McArthur and others to whom he gave a deed January 2d, 1866. McArther and his associates organized the " Empire Sewing Machine Com- pany " and the premises were sold to this company May 1st, 1866. It was intended by this company to establish a large manufactory at this place, an intention which was frustrated by subsequent events, and the entire premises and water rights were sold to the "Mahopac Manufacturing Company," Janu- ary 10th, 1869. This company had already established a large manufactory on the Muscoot River, in Westchester county. In September, 1870, the Board of Water Commissioners of the city of New York took possession of the water privileges and from that time the occupation of the famous "Red Mills," like Othello's, was "gone." For several years the city paid an annual rent for the privilege of drawing water from the lakes but under the act of 1879 for enlarging the powers of the commis- sioners the premises were taken for the use of the city, and on June 14th, 1881, Hubert O. Thompson, chief of the Department of Public Works, offered for sale at auction the "superstruc- ture wood work and machinery of the Red Mills," and they were purchased by Lewis Baker for $227.
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